Step Forward For Stem Cell Research

Good news for regenerative medicine today: "South Korean scientists reported Thursday that they've generated the first human embryonic stem-cell lines carrying genes that match the DNA of patients suffering from disease or spinal-cord injury. The development [represents] a major step in the field of stem-cell research. The immediate impact is that researchers could soon study cells carrying specific variations of disease in the laboratory. ... What the study shows is that stem cells can be made that are specific to patients regardless of age or sex, and that these cells are identical genetic matches to the donor ... If they can be safely used in transplant, the promise for effective treatment - perhaps even cure - of devastating diseases and injuries comes within reach."

Link: http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=CUSTOMCELLS-05-19-05&cat=II